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Congress reconvened this week to address a comprehensive agenda, including fiscal year 2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security and additional funding allocations for immigration enforcement and defense. Republican leadership is preparing to advance President Trump’s request through a partisan expedited process, aiming to bypass a Democratic filibuster. This initiative faces a challenging timeline,…

ASA supports the Working Families Tax Cut Act. This legislation shields employers and workers from the largest tax increase in U.S. history and strengthens the backbone of our economy. By making permanent lower rates and the Section 199A small business deduction, the bill allows pass-through businesses—employing 63% of private-sector workers—to compete fairly with larger corporations…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been unfunded for 59 days.  On April 1, President Trump asked Congress for a reconciliation bill by June 1 to fund ICE and CBP, implying support for the Senate-passed Homeland Security appropriations bill. House GOP leaders had resisted voting on that bill before recess. Senate Majority Leader Thune…

President Trump has called for the next budget reconciliation process to be fast and focused. Republican leaders, including Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson, emphasize that the bill should be narrowly streamlined, covering only three years of appropriations for DHS immigration enforcement and border security. They argue that funding for agencies that would otherwise be supported…

On April 3, the White House released the President’s discretionary budget request, proposing a 44% increase in defense spending and a 10% decrease in non-defense discretionary spending. The president’s budget is mostly symbolic and rarely influences Congressional appropriations. This month, the House Appropriations Committee will begin marking up spending bills, starting with Military Construction-Veterans Affairs…

The Senate recently rejected an amendment to require photo ID for federal elections, with the bill debate set to continue.  On March 31, President Trump signed an executive order enforcing stricter mail-in voting rules and directing states to identify eligible voters; Democrats have filed a lawsuit against its enforcement.

The government’s authority to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) expires in one week. Republican leaders and the White House are pushing for a clean 18-month extension, and the House plans to vote on the measure this week. The proposal is politically divided. The Speaker…

Democrats plan to push Iran War Powers resolutions this week. Even if passed, they lack enough support to overcome a likely presidential veto. The effort mainly aims to spotlight opposition to the war and compel Republicans to state their stance.  

Congress was in session this week in anticipation of a two-week Passover/Easter break starting next week, but the Senate may cancel all or part of that recess. The House voted on the following bills:  The Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, debated the SAVE America Act along with…

The Senate began debate last Tuesday on the voter identification bill, a top priority for President Trump and on Saturday, the chamber voted strictly along party lines to reject two amendments: a Republican proposal to bar transgender women from competing in women’s college sports, and a Democratic amendment from Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) attempting to…